NATIONAL FILM
REGISTRY TITLES of the U. S. LIBRARY of CONGRESS
(1989 - 2014)

Part 1

In 1988, the
Library of Congress passed the National Film Preservation Act, and thus
established the National Film Preservation Board. The law authorizes
the Librarian of Congress to select and preserve up to 25 films each
year to add to the National
Film Registry.

Facts and Commentary about the List:

The films in the National Film Registry represent
a stunning range of American filmmaking - including Hollywood features,
documentaries, avant-garde and amateur productions, experimental films, films of regional
interest, ethnic, animated and short film subjects -- all deserving
recognition, preservation and access by future generations.

As of 2014, there were 650 films selected. The films
that are selected must meet two criteria:

they must be culturally, historically, or aesthetically
significant

they must be at least ten years old

The selection takes place after the Librarian of Congress
reviews public suggestions and consults with film experts and the 40
members (and alternates) of the National Film Preservation Board.

According
to Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington:

taken together, the...films in the National Film Registry
represent a stunning range of American filmmaking  including
Hollywood features, documentaries, avant-garde and amateur productions,
films of regional interest, ethnic, animated, and short film subjects
-- all deserving recognition, preservation and access by future generations."
He also observed that "the films we choose are not necessarily
either the 'best' American films ever made or the most famous. But
they are films that continue to have cultural, historical or aesthetic
significance -- and in many cases represent countless other films
also deserving of recognition.

For each title named to the Registry, the Library of
Congress works to ensure that the film is preserved for all time, either
through the Library's massive motion picture preservation program at
Dayton, Ohio, or through collaborative ventures with other archives,
motion pictures studios, and independent film makers. The Library of
Congress contains the largest collection of film and television in the
world, from the earliest surviving copyrighted motion picture to the
latest feature releases.

Note: The films that are marked with a yellow
star
are the films that "The Greatest Films" site has also selected
as
the "100 Greatest Films".